Today we’d like to introduce you to Alisa Tantsyreva.
Hi Alisa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey into photography started completely by accident. I was born in Bashkortostan, Russia, and earned two higher education degrees – first in education as an English teacher, and second in organizational management. Photography was never part of my original plan.
While working in banking, I unexpectedly received my first camera, and that moment completely changed my life. What began as curiosity quickly became a true passion. I later graduated from photography school and built a successful career as a wedding photographer in Tyumen, Russia, eventually becoming one of the most recognized photographers in my city, started photographing in 2015.
For many years, weddings were my main focus. Interestingly, I never truly loved photographing families at that time. But everything changed after the birth of my daughter. Becoming a mother completely transformed the way I see photography, emotions, and memories. I suddenly understood what parents truly want to preserve – not perfect poses, but connection, warmth, safety, small everyday moments, and the feeling of love inside a family.
After immigrating to the United States, I began focusing much more on family and lifestyle photography. Starting over in a new country was both inspiring and incredibly difficult. I had to rebuild my career, reputation, and network from scratch. Photography once again became the bridge that connected me with people and helped me create a new chapter of my life.
Today, I primarily photograph families, mothers, children, and couples in Pennsylvania, creating emotional and cinematic imagery inspired by human connection, childhood memories, vulnerability, and the feeling of home. I still photograph weddings occasionally, but my heart is now much closer to family storytelling.
I believe photography is much more than beautiful images. It is a way to preserve emotions, identity, and moments that disappear far too quickly. Through my work, I want people to feel seen, loved, and remembered.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Honestly, I feel very lucky because my journey has never felt extremely difficult. In many ways, it feels like fate itself led me to photography. It feels like this is exactly what I was meant to do.
Creativity has always been a huge part of who I am. Since childhood, I was drawn to artistic and unusual things. I loved writing stories, participating in comedy performances and intellectual games, and constantly creating something new. I have always seen the world a little differently, noticing emotions, details, and beauty in ordinary moments.
Because of that, photography came naturally to me. It never felt like just work – it felt like a language I already understood deep inside. Of course, immigrating to the United States and rebuilding my career from scratch was emotionally challenging, but photography itself has always felt very intuitive and deeply connected to my personality.
I also think one of the most beautiful things about art is finding people who see and feel the world similarly to you. Through photography, I have met many people who connect with the emotions and stories I try to capture, and that inspires me every day.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Right now, I am primarily focused on family photography (also in weddings but don’t take many weddings). Before immigrating to the United States, I rarely photographed families, but after becoming a mother and starting a new life here, I completely immersed myself in this world. I dedicated myself to improving my skills, developing my artistic voice, and becoming a photographer whose work people truly notice and emotionally connect with.
My work is deeply inspired by real emotions, human connection, and the feeling of safety and love inside a family. I want my photographs to feel alive and honest rather than overly posed or artificial. I believe the smallest moments often become the most valuable memories years later.
One of the things I am most proud of is that I did not give up after moving to a new country where nobody knew me. Rebuilding a career from scratch is emotionally difficult, especially in a creative industry, but I continued creating, learning, and growing. I am also proud that my work has been published in magazines and recognized internationally.
One of my earliest moments of realizing that our work was becoming known happened back in Tyumen, Russia. My husband and I walked into a vape store to buy smoke accessories for a photoshoot. The seller looked at us and suddenly said, “Oh, I follow you on Instagram. This is for your photos, right?” At that moment, I realized that people actually knew and recognized our work, even in a large city. It was a very small but meaningful moment for me, and I still remember that feeling.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is my family and the little moments of life that feel real and meaningful. One of the biggest joys in my life is watching my daughter grow. She is five years old and this year she is starting school in America, which feels both exciting and emotional for me. In Russia, children usually start school later, so sometimes it is hard for me to believe how quickly she is growing up. I feel proud and happy watching her slowly begin communicating with American children, understanding the language, and adapting to a completely new world.
Traveling also makes me incredibly happy. My family and I absolutely love exploring new places together – my husband, my daughter, our miniature poodle, and me. I dream of visiting every state in America and seeing all the national parks. The United States has such breathtaking nature – mountains, lakes, forests, hot springs, deserts, and incredible landscapes that constantly inspire me creatively and emotionally. I also love camping and spending time outdoors surrounded by nature.
Photography still brings me genuine happiness, even after more than 11 years in this profession. I never get tired of seeing emotional reactions from my clients when they receive their photos. Knowing that I created memories that will stay with a family forever is incredibly meaningful to me.
I also find happiness in very simple things – flowers at home, good news, reading books, and spending evenings playing board games with friends. I think happiness often lives in small moments, connection, warmth, and the feeling of being surrounded by people you love.
Pricing:
- $350/300 30 min sessions
- $450/400 1 hour sessions
- $500 – 1 hour weddings
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alisatant.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisa.tant/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alisa.tant.2025/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@alisatant
- Other: https://www.tant.pro
